Green Bay • Saturday, July 16th, 9:30 am o Wisconsin Truth Tour Kick Off. The Wisconsin Truth Tour is a statewide bus tour which will give Wisconsinites a chance to speak out on the impact of Scott Walker’s devastating budget and union-busting measures. Teamsters Hall, 1546 Main Street. Green Bay
Racine • Tuesday, July 19th, 11am o Paul Ryan Wine Tasting Medicare/Medicaid Protest, Paul Ryan’s office, 216 6th Street, Racine. For more information: kevin.kane@citizenactionwi.org.
Kenosha • Wednesday, July 20th, 4:30-6:30pm o AFL-CIO Rally for Working People, Come support WI working families with special guests: Sen. Wirch, The Nation’s John Nichols, Peter Barca, Cory Mason and many more! Civic Center Park, 900 E. 57th Street, Kenosha.
Fond du Lac • Wednesday, July 20th, 4-7pm o Welcome Rally for Scott Walker and Randy Hopper at their fundraiser. South Hills Country Club, 1175 Fond du Lac Ave., Sponsored by: AFSCME Local 579. For more information: http://www.hs.facebook.com/event.php?eid=253520904664016
Portage • Tue, July 26, 7pm – 9pm o Senate Recall Election Forum, Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative will sponsor a forum for the two candidates from Wisconsin’s 14th Senate District recall election. Best Western Hotel: 2701 South Highway CX, Portage. Contact: acec@acecwi.com.
Washington, DC • Saturday, July 30 o Save Our Schools March A national Save Our Schools March will be held in Washington, D.C. The march will be preceded by a rally in Ellipse Park. The rally begins at noon and will feature speakers, music, and other activities. At 1:30, the march toward the Department of Education will begin. A rally will be held in front of the DOE where we will deliver our list of demands to Arne Duncan, and the march will end back at Ellipse Park. Teacher activist led workshops from July 28th thru July 31st at American University. State organizers are hoping to get at least 5,000 Wisconsin educators in DC! For more information: http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/event_info/the-march/
Statewide Volunteer today to help We are Wisconsin canvass in each district throughout the state. www.wearewisconsin.org
Madison Area • Thursday, July 14th, 7:30 pm o A Celebration on the 99th Birthday of Woody Guthrie. Proceeds to benefit “We Are Wisconsin”, a network of religious leaders, community groups, labor union members, student groups, and others who oppose current state budget proposals harming Wisconsin families. Tickets: $35 Advance / $75 VIP (includes preferred seating and ‘meet and greet’ with Arlo after the show) http://www.barrymorelive.com/ • Every Weekday, Noon o Solidarity Sing-A-Long, Capitol rotunda, Madison. Join Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice on the ground floor Capitol Rotunda for a solidarity sing-along at noon, featuring best-loved songs from the labor and civil rights movements. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Solidarity-Sing-Along/144005335667532 • Every Monday, 5pm – 6pm o Verona Solidarity Walk, Bring signs, kids, and friends. Meet at the High School, walk down Main St. on the sidewalk past Millers Grocery and back. Verona High School 300 Richard St, Verona For more information: defendwisconsin@gmail.com
Milwaukee Area • Thursday, July 14th, 11:30am o Protest Alberta Darling’s support of Paul Ryan’s plan to end Medicare. Alberta Darling's office, 311 W Silver Spring Dr, Milwaukee. Sponsored by We are Wisconsin. • Wednesday, July 20th, 4:30pm o Rally and press conference to denounce the recent MPS layoffs of 147 educational assistants and 361 teachers. Alliance School parking lot, 234 W. Galena St. Support MPS educators who have been laid off AND speak out for public education! This event is sponsored by MPS Teachers, Families, and Citizens United to Stop Layoffs. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204007959647250
Wausau • Thursday, July 14th, 10:00am o Join residents of the 8th CD to call on Congressman Duffy who voted to end Medicare to return his government insurance and go into the private market. Congressman Duffy’s District Office - 208 Grand Ave. (Parking Lot) Wausau.
Washington, DC • Saturday, July 30 o Save Our Schools March A national Save Our Schools March will be held in Washington, D.C. The march will be preceded by a rally in Ellipse Park. The rally begins at noon and will feature speakers, music, and other activities. At 1:30, the march toward the Department of Education will begin. A rally will be held in front of the DOE where we will deliver our list of demands to Arne Duncan, and the march will end back at Ellipse Park. Teacher activist led workshops from July 28th thru July 31st at American University. State organizers are hoping to get at least 5,000 Wisconsin educators in DC!
For more information: http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/event_info/the-march/
At a campaign event in June, Alberta Darling embraced Congressman Paul Ryan’s infamous plan to destroy Medicare and Medicaid as we know them. The plan supported by Darling abrogates our historic commitment to seniors, low income families, and people with disabilities in order to fund $2.9 trillion dollars in additional tax giveaways to the wealthy and to transfer $30 trillion to the health insurance industry by giving them control over Medicare.
Now Alberta Darling is trying to distance herself from her own strong comments in support of Ryan’s plan. We will not let her forget.
Join us and We are Wisconsin tomorrow at 11:30am at Alberta Darling’s office, 311 W Silver Spring Dr, where we will remind Alberta that her constituents do not support her efforts to end Medicare and Medicaid.
Destroys Medicare as we know It
The plan supported by Darling transforms Medicare into a voucher system, forcing seniors to buy coverage from the private insurance industry. In the first year the plan would double out-of pocket costs for the typical senior (an increase of $6,000 per year). Out of pocket costs would escalate over time because the voucher will be increased at a rate of 3% less than yearly medical inflation. Over time the cost share seniors pay would grow to over $24,000 per year, or 68% of the median senior income.
Devastates Medicaid
Medicaid provides health coverage for low income families and long term care for seniors and people with disabilities. (This includes the popular BadgerCare and Family Care programs). The plan supported by Darling turns Medicaid into a block grant to states that will increase much more slowly than the rate of health care inflation. The system would lead to a 49% cut in federal support for Medicaid, forcing states like Wisconsin to drastically cut eligibility and benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, if the plan had been in effect over the last decade, Wisconsin would have lost $3 billion in federal support for Medicaid during the current 2 year state budget, nearly doubling the state’s deficit and forcing draconian cuts to BadgerCare, home care, and nursing home care.
Transfers $300 trillion from Seniors to Health Insurance Industry.
The privatization of Medicare supported by Darling will transfer $30 trillion to the health insurance industry, which amounts to a $100,000 wealth transfer from every man, woman, and child in the U.S. According to the Congressional Budget Office, shifting Medicare to private insurance costs 11% more, due to insurance industry profit and overhead. Initially seniors on Medicare will pay on average $4,380 just to cover insurance industry profits and overhead, and will pay $9,630 per year on average within 20 years. This amounts to a gigantic tax on America’s seniors to fund outlandish profits and CEO Salaries for the big health insurance companies.
Wisconsin Will Lose Additional Health Care Funding Due to Repeal of National Health Care Reform The plan supported by Alberta Darling repeals the Affordable Care Act, eliminating new premium tax credits for the middle class and new Medicaid dollars for low income Wisconsinites. According to Families USA, over the next 10 years Wisconsinites would lose $16.7 billion in tax credits to pay for health coverage, and $9.7 billion in federal money for expanding Medicaid. Combining cuts to the current Medicare and Medicaid programs with cuts to additional tax credits and Medicaid dollars under the Affordable Care Act, Wisconsinites stand to lose $41 billion in federal health care funding over the next ten years under Ryan’s plan.
Plan Increases Health Care Costs and Shifts Burden to Us
Medicare and Medicaid are only difficult to afford because of the rapid rate of health care hyperinflation. The only serious effort under way to get health care costs under control is the Affordable Care Act, yet the plan supported by Alberta Darling repeals it, guaranteeing that costs will continue to rise well above the rate of general inflation.
Statewide Volunteer today to help We are Wisconsin canvass in each district throughout the state. www.wearewisconsin.org
Madison Area • Wednesday, July 13th, 10am o Public hearing on GOP redistricting plan. Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs will the only public hearing on the GOP redistricting plan. State Capitol, Room 412 East. For details: http://committeeschedule.legis.wisconsin.gov/files/HearingNotices/11-07-13-1000-2011AHOM-16157.html • Thursday, July 14th, 7:30 pm o A Celebration on the 99th Birthday of Woody Guthrie. Proceeds to benefit “We Are Wisconsin”, a network of religious leaders, community groups, labor union members, student groups, and others who oppose current state budget proposals harming Wisconsin families. Tickets: $35 Advance / $75 VIP (includes preferred seating and ‘meet and greet’ with Arlo after the show) http://www.barrymorelive.com/ • Every Weekday, Noon o Solidarity Sing-A-Long, Capitol rotunda, Madison. Join Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice on the ground floor Capitol Rotunda for a solidarity sing-along at noon, featuring best-loved songs from the labor and civil rights movements. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Solidarity-Sing-Along/144005335667532 • Every Monday, 5pm – 6pm o Verona Solidarity Walk, Bring signs, kids, and friends. Meet at the High School, walk down Main St. on the sidewalk past Millers Grocery and back. Verona High School 300 Richard St, Verona For more information: defendwisconsin@gmail.com
Milwaukee Area • Thursday, July 14th, 11:30am o Protest Alberta Darling’s support of Paul Ryan’s plan to end Medicare. Alberta Darling's office, 311 W Silver Spring Dr, Milwaukee. Sponsored by We are Wisconsin. • Wednesday, July 20th, 4:30pm o Rally and press conference to denounce the recent MPS layoffs of 147 educational assistants and 361 teachers. Alliance School parking lot, 234 W. Galena St. Support MPS educators who have been laid off AND speak out for public education! This event is sponsored by MPS Teachers, Families, and Citizens United to Stop Layoffs. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204007959647250
Wausau • Thursday, July 14th, 10:00am o Join residents of the 8th CD to call on Congressman Duffy who voted to end Medicare to return his government insurance and go into the private market. Congressman Duffy’s District Office - 208 Grand Ave. (Parking Lot) Wausau. Sponsored by: Protect our Care and Citizen Action of WI. For more information contact Doug: djh1967@msn.com
Washington, DC • Saturday, July 30 o Save Our Schools March A national Save Our Schools March will be held in Washington, D.C. The march will be preceded by a rally in Ellipse Park. The rally begins at noon and will feature speakers, music, and other activities. At 1:30, the march toward the Department of Education will begin. A rally will be held in front of the DOE where we will deliver our list of demands to Arne Duncan, and the march will end back at Ellipse Park. Teacher activist led workshops from July 28th thru July 31st at American University. State organizers are hoping to get at least 5,000 Wisconsin educators in DC! For more information: http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/event_info/the-march/
Statewide Volunteer today to help We are Wisconsin canvass in each district throughout the state. www.wearewisconsin.org
Madison Area • Tuesday, July 12th,12:00pm - 12:30pm o Prosser Must Go Rally @ Wisconsin State Capitol - State Street steps. In the wake of allegations that Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser placed fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in a chokehold in her office, women’s rights organizations and elected officials across the state are calling for him to step down until investigations are complete. Sponsored by a growing list of women's rights organizations and women elected officials. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188719067851417 • Wednesday, July 13th, 10am o Public hearing on GOP redistricting plan. Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs will the only public hearing on the GOP redistricting plan. State Capitol, Room 412 East. For details: http://committeeschedule.legis.wisconsin.gov/files/HearingNotices/11-07-13-1000-2011AHOM-16157.html • Thursday, July 14th, 7:30 pm o A Celebration on the 99th Birthday of Woody Guthrie. Proceeds to benefit “We Are Wisconsin”, a network of religious leaders, community groups, labor union members, student groups, and others who oppose current state budget proposals harming Wisconsin families. Tickets: $35 Advance / $75 VIP (includes preferred seating and ‘meet and greet’ with Arlo after the show) http://www.barrymorelive.com/ • Every Weekday, Noon o Solidarity Sing-A-Long, Capitol rotunda, Madison. Join Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice on the ground floor Capitol Rotunda for a solidarity sing-along at noon, featuring best-loved songs from the labor and civil rights movements. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Solidarity-Sing-Along/144005335667532 • Every Monday, 5pm – 6pm o Verona Solidarity Walk, Bring signs, kids, and friends. Meet at the High School, walk down Main st on the sidewalk past Millers Grocery and back. Verona High School 300 Richard St, Verona For more information: defendwisconsin@gmail.com
Milwaukee Area • Wednesday, July 20th, 4:30pm o Rally and press conference to denounce the recent MPS layoffs of 147 educational assistants and 361 teachers. Alliance School parking lot, 234 W. Galena St. Support MPS educators who have been laid off AND speak out for public education! This event is sponsored by MPS Teachers, Families, Citizens United to Stop Layoffs. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204007959647250
Racine • Tuesday, July 12th, 2:15pm o Protest Gov. Walker at Gateway Technical College. Gov. Walker just cut funding to the tech colleges in Wisconsin by 30%. Parking in GTC lots east side of the buildings - toward the lake. Gateway Technical College’s Racine campus, 1001 South Main Street, Racine. Protesters meet on Main Street between 10th and 11th streets at 2:15 p.m. More information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182636208464383
Washington, DC • Saturday, July 30 o Save Our Schools March A national Save Our Schools March will be held in Washington, D.C. The march will be preceded by a rally in Ellipse Park. The rally begins at noon and will feature speakers, music, and other activities. At 1:30, the march toward the Department of Education will begin. A rally will be held in front of the DOE where we will deliver our list of demands to Arne Duncan, and the march will end back at Ellipse Park. Teacher activist led workshops from July 28th thru July 31st at American University. State organizers are hoping to get at least 5,000 Wisconsin educators in DC!
For more information: http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/event_info/the-march/
Statewide Volunteer today to help We are Wisconsin canvass in each district throughout the state. www.wearewisconsin.org
Madison • Tuesday, July 12th, 12:00pm o Prosser Must Go Rally @ Wisconsin State Capitol - State Street steps. In the wake of allegations that Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser placed fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in a chokehold in her office, women’s rights organizations and elected officials across the state are calling for him to step down until investigations are complete. Sponsored by a growing list of women's rights organizations and women elected officials. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188719067851417 • Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 7:30 pm o A Celebration on the 99th Birthday of Woody Guthrie. Proceeds to benefit “We Are Wisconsin”, a network of religious leaders, community groups, labor union members, student groups, and others who oppose current state budget proposals harming Wisconsin families. Tickets: $35 Advance / $75 VIP (includes preferred seating and ‘meet and greet’ with Arlo after the show) http://www.barrymorelive.com/
Milwaukee • Monday, July 11th, 4:00 – 6:00pm o Pack the Bridges – Banners Over the Highway on Sen. Darling Recall. Locations will be 1) the Good Hope Rd. Bridge over Hwy 45, 2) the Green Tree Bridge over Hwy. 43 and 3) the Bradford Beach walk bridge over Lincoln Memorial Pkwy. • Tuesday, July 12th, 7:00 - Noon, protest; 8:30am, press event o MICAH Action and Press Conference on jobs crisis. MICAH wants to send a message to Milwaukee elected officials that access to good jobs on tax payer subsidized development projects is a moral issue and must be addressed. Westlawn Housing Demolition Site, 64th & Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117142035043901 • Wednesday, July 20th, 4:30pm o Rally and press conference to denounce the recent MPS layoffs of 147 educational assistants and 361 teachers. Alliance School parking lot, 234 W. Galena St. Support MPS educators who have been laid off AND speak out for public education! This event is sponsored by MPS Teachers, Families, Citizens United to Stop Layoffs. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204007959647250
Racine • Tuesday, July 12th, 2:15pm o Protest Gov. Walker at Gateway Technical College. Gov. Walker just cut funding to the tech colleges in Wisconsin by 30%. Parking in GTC lots east side of the buildings - toward the lake. Gateway Technical College’s Racine campus, 1001 South Main Street, Racine. Protesters meet on Main Street between 10th and 11th streets at 2:15 p.m.
Kaukauna • Monday, July 11th, 5:30pm o Kaukauna School Board Meeting, The School Board has imposed on the teachers a Handbook which includes significant unilateral takeaways from employees. The Board meeting starts at 5:30 and the location is the Kaukauna High School Library. For more details: http://www.weac.org/Issues_Advocacy/Legislative_Resources/Support_Our_Union/activities.aspx
Washington, DC • Saturday, July 30 o Save Our Schools March A national Save Our Schools March will be held in Washington, D.C. The march will be preceded by a rally in Ellipse Park. The rally begins at noon and will feature speakers, music, and other activities. At 1:30, the march toward the Department of Education will begin. A rally will be held in front of the DOE where we will deliver our list of demands to Arne Duncan, and the march will end back at Ellipse Park. Teacher activist led workshops from July 28th thru July 31st at American University. State organizers are hoping to get at least 5,000 Wisconsin educators in DC! For more information: http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/event_info/the-march/
Milwaukee's Democratic legislators have written a letter asking the legislature's majority leaders to call a special session to enact legislation enabling Wisconsin to secure $89 million in federal extended unemployment benefits.
10,000 unemployed workers in the state have run out of unemployment insurance benefits because of the legislature's failure to act.
Two weeks ago the New York Times wrote that Wisconsin and Arizona were among a handful of states that were refusing to accept federal aid for "ideological reasons." A Wisconsin Manufacturer's and Commerce (WMC) spokesman claimed that the extended benefits were unnecessary and discouraged the unemployed from seeking work.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel followed up the Times' expose with a front page article that reported that Governor Walker supported extending the benefits, but did think they would create jobs, an unsubstantiated declaration that contradicts economic research that concludes extending unemployment benefits is among the strongest job creating policies governments can implement.
Yet neither Darling, the Fitzgerald brothers nor Governor Walker have taken any steps to secure the $89 million that would not cost the state a single penny.
Their lack of urgency stands in sharp contrast to their actions immediately after Walker assumed office when they convened a special session to enact approximately $140 million in tax breaks for corporations and investors.
The failure of Darling, Walker and the Fitzgerald's to act is an outrage and immoral.
More than 10,000 hard-working, tax-paying Wisconsinites who lost their jobs through no fault of their own have run out of benefits. Many have lost their homes or are at risk of losing them. Others have been forced to drop out of school diminishing their hope for reemployment through retraining.
Wisconsin has a jobs shortage. Nationally there are 4.6 job seekers for every job.
It is time for Darling, Walker and the GOP to put up or shut up.
Call a special session immediately or justify your refusal to accept the federal money to the public and the state's unemployed.
